Fr Patrick McInerney, Director of the Columban Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations, speaks during the Tri-Diocesan Social Justice Statement reflection evening at St Monica's Parish, North Parramatta, in June 2025. Image: Alphonsus Fok/Diocese of Parramatta| Catholic Outlook
The Holy See Press Office issued a statement on Saturday morning, 4 October, that at 8:30 in the private library of the Apostolic Palace, Pope Leo XIV signed his Apostolic Exhortation Dilexi te in the presence of Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, Substitute for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State.| Catholic Outlook
The World Day for Migrants and Refugees invites us to recognise the contribution that they make to our nation. It also encourages us to welcome them.| Catholic Outlook
On Sunday 28 September 2025, Holy Spirit Parish, St Clair-Erskine Park blossomed into a vibrant tapestry of colour, prayer, and fellowship as the community gathered for Migrant and Refugee Sunday together with the parish’s much anticipated Annual Multicultural Mass.| Catholic Outlook
As Christians, we are called to become like the Good Samaritan.| Catholic Outlook
From the crowded East African refugee camp where he learned the power of community, to Western Sydney — James’ journey has been one of resilience, service, and unwavering belief.| Catholic Outlook
In a powerfully compelling message issued from the heart of the Christian Gospel and foundational Catholic social teaching, Washington's Cardinal Robert McElroy provided the guidance U.S. Catholics have been searching for as they witness what he termed a government assault on the immigrant community.| Catholic Outlook
Pope Leo XIV has urged the world not to remain passive in the face of human suffering, particularly as it relates to the ongoing migrant and refugee crisis. He warned against what he described as the “globalization of powerlessness”—an attitude that spreads when we grow indifferent to the suffering of others and believe that nothing can be done to help.| Catholic Outlook
It might not be a large parish, but St Anthony of Padua, Toongabbie, has a junior altar serving ministry that would rival some of its bigger neighbours. The ministry has flourished since its rejuvenation in 2016, with 44 servers aged 10- to 18-years-old assisting with the celebration of the parish’s three weekend Masses and their Tuesday evening devotion Mass to St Anthony.| Catholic Outlook
A book about a lecture series? That doesn't sound very compelling. But Reasons for Hope: Hélder Câmara, Global Catholicism and the Australian Church by historian Julie Thorpe is a rambunctious work that employs a 40-year lecture series to shine a light on developments in post-conciliar Catholicism.| Catholic Outlook
The Diocese congratulates Rev Dr Patrick McInerney, the Director for the Columban Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations, located in the Diocese of Parramatta, who was the recent recipient of the inaugural Interfaith Dialogue Award by the University of Notre Dame Australia.| Catholic Outlook
Rachael Kama, the Diocese of Parramatta’s Parish Engagement Coordinator and the Leader for the current Jubilee Pilgrimage to Greece, Türkiye and Rome experienced “the best day of my life” – celebrating Pope Leo’s birthday with him last week.| Catholic Outlook
Dorothy Patiu MSC (left), Vice-President, Federation of Religious PNG & Solomon Islands with Bernadette Toohey MGL, on an evening break. Image: Supplied| Catholic Outlook
CRA Council members for 2025-26, following the election that took place at the National Assembly. Image: Catholic Religious Australia/Supplied| Catholic Outlook
The CRA Conference program inspired 'Our story, our hope, our joy'Last month’s National Assembly of Catholic Religious Australia (CRA), held at Parramatta, NSW, saw another large turnout, bringing together more than 140 leaders and leadership team members from religious congregations across Australia and beyond for three days of input, reflection, networking and prayer.| Catholic Outlook
Catholic Care’s prison chaplain, Richard Korkor, recently featured on ABC Radio’s Sunday Evenings with Sirine Demachkie, where he shared his unique journey from corporate finance to prison and hospital chaplaincy.| Catholic Outlook
Each one of us has a unique personhood, purpose and calling to which we are sent out to live in a way that opens the possibility to be more Christ like. So, the very fact that you are reading this suggests that includes you.| Catholic Outlook
Priests in the Diocese of Parramatta have walked beside us through life’s greatest moments, celebrating baptisms and weddings, and offering comfort in times of sickness and loss. With your prayers and support of the Bishop’s Father’s Day Appeal, run by the Clergy Support Foundation, you can help ensure these priests and other clergy continue to receive safe housing, quality healthcare and daily care.| Catholic Outlook
The opening of the new home represents not only a new chapter for the community in Parramatta but also a reaffirmation of L’Arche’s mission to create places of belonging, dignity and shared humanity.| Catholic Outlook
This year’s event was a true community celebration – supported by the community, for the community. Hosted by Baabayn Aboriginal Corporation and Holy Family Parish, in collaboration with Blacktown City Council, Catholic Care Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains, and the Diocese of Parramatta, the day brought together people from all walks of life to celebrate culture, build relationships, and share resources.| Catholic Outlook
God’s love for the poor and isolated, which we see in Jesus’ life and mission, invites us all to notice and to attend to people who are homeless and suffer from mental illness. Our Church should be a house of hospitality and relief.| Catholic Outlook
It is with profound sadness that I share with you the news of the passing of Greg Whitby, former Executive Director of Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta. After a week of being hospitalised, he died peacefully in the company of his wife Sue and loved ones on Saturday, August 30th, 2025, aged 73.| Catholic Outlook
We are supposed to pray not only for the people we’re intimate with, and the people we spend time with, but for the people whose paths happen to cross briefly with ours, and the people whose names we do not know.| Catholic Outlook
For couples navigating the lonely and often challenging road of infertility, our Mission Enhancement Team (MET) hosts a series of events, introducing a compassionate, faith-aligned, and scientifically grounded approach to reproductive healthcare.| Catholic Outlook
Deacon Adrian Gomez is passionate about working with young people, helping them in their formation as Catholics, and especially as leaders in their faith. But he has another string to his bow – that of a Navy Chaplain - which at first glance looks to be very different from his work in youth ministry, but as he discovered actually has a lot of similarities.| Catholic Outlook